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NATIONAL POULTRY IMPROVEMENT PLAN ( NPIP )

Written by: Jennifer Jennings-Glover Florida State NPIP Contact Representative, Tallahassee, Florida

The NPIP is a voluntary program developed in 1935 to control and eradicate Pullorum disease and fowl typhoid. The USDA, state agencies and the poultry industry administer it cooperatively. Florida is classified as a US Pullorum-Typhoid Clean State. Over 95% of the US breeding and hatchery industry participates in the program. All commercial hatcheries and dealers must by NPIP participants in order to sell and/or transport chicks and eggs. Currently in Florida authorized testing agents are at all poultry exhibitions to inspect birds and test those not already tested. However, in the near future all poultry going to public exhibition must be from US Pullorum-Typhoid Clean flocks (NPIP source) or have a negative pullorum-typhoid test within 90 days.

SALMONELLA: Salmonella is an intestinal bacterium of which there are over 2,000 different types.

PULLORUM (caused by Salmonella pullorum) and fowl typhoid (caused by Salmonella Gallinaarum) are specific diseases of chicken and other poultry. The symptoms of pullorum, a bacterial disease, include white diarrhea, droopiness, ruffled feathers, pale comb and wattles, loss of appetite and high death loss. Pullorum and fowl typhoid are not only transmitted by close contact and contamination, but may be transmitted through the egg from the hen to the chick, bird to bird and by fecal contamination.

These diseases have been eradicated in commercial flocks. A reservoir may exist in backyard flocks, some wild birds, and smuggled birds. The poultry industry continues to monitor infection by testing and has required that all exhibition fowl be tested to insure control of the diseases. Please have your birds tested, this will ensure the continuation of the fancy poultry hobby. We cannot control wild birds nor smuggled birds but we can help by having our own birds tested because they may inadvertently pick up this disease.

An Authorized Agent is a person licensed by the state plan to perform pullorum tests. In the whole blood test performed in the field and at poultry exhibitions, a loop full of blood is taken from the wing vein with a needle/loop and is mixed with a drop of antigen on a glass plate at room temperature. The plate is tipped back and forth to continue to mix the serum and antigen. If no antibody is present in the blood, the stained antigen will remain homogenous or smooth for least 2 minutes. If there is antibody present in the serum it will stock to the antigen and clump into little islands large enough to be visible within 2 minutes. A bird with a positive test is considered a reactor. In the event of a reactor(s) at an exhibition the reactor will be identified and then all birds from this flock will be sent home. An authorized agent will make an appointment to test birds at the flock location. All reactors must be retested as well as the rest of the flock. At that time reactors must be submitted for cultures. The flock will be under quarantine until results are obtained from the laboratory.

The NPIP program consists of different subparts. One for commercial egg industry, one for commercial meat industry, one for commercial turkey industry and then Subpart E for waterfowl, exhibition and game birds.

For individuals wanting to become a participant in the NPIP program an authorized agent needs to come and test 100% of the breeders flock. The breeder birds will be tested every year. Once the paperwork is completed, along with a contract a NPIP number is applied for by the NPIP office, then a card is sent out with this number on it for the participant. To renew participation in the NPIP program the flock needs to be tested annually.

To become an NPIP participant or to get more information about the program you may contact your local County Extension Agent to request the address and phone number to call to become a member.